'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎100v] (200/416)

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In the meantime, the evangelist’s house was searched by the detectives,
without anything of a serious nature being found. One or two letters which the
rvangeUst had written to a British Missionary m Kerman from the districts,
had already been intercepted by the Police, as the result of which the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. had
been placed under secret observation.
The same detective, accompanied by two Policemen presented himself at
the door of the Mission Church on Christmas Day while a Persian Holy Commu-
nion was being observed, and demanded entry. As the presence of un-confimed
Zsons at Holy Communion is considered by the Church authorities to be con-
Irarv to the rules, Rev. H. E. J. Biggs, the Parson, refused to let him in After
some altercation and an attempt by the detective to prevent some of the Per
sia™ converts from attending the Communion Service the detective was per-
^fldwl to visit Dr Dodson, the Senior Medical Missionary, who apparently
Znaged to appease him, ami so he contented himself with being present at the
general Persian Service which was held in the Church shortly afterwards.
The above incidents have caused some alarm to the British Missionaries in
Kerman who are of opinion that serious interference on the part of the local
authorities with their evangelical work would make their further residence in the
country impossible.
The local Police, on the other hand, are said to have argued that any gather
ing to which a detective could not gain admittance was illegal, according to their
standing orders, and would have to be stopped.
Later on Dr. Dodson called upon the Chief of the Police and obtained a
verbal promise that there would he no further repetition of such interference.
How far this promise will be kept remains to be seen.
(b) Boys’ School—Mr. F. T. B. Snow, M.A. (Cantab), remained in charge
of the Boys’ School throughout the year.
The return of Rev. R. Illiff from Shiraz in September, for school work in
Karman, acted as a great impetus to the C. M. S. education work in this place.
A high percentage of the boys, who had been prepared for the Government
primary Certificates, were successful in their examinations.
Games and Sports—In spite of the small number of pupils (38) in the
beginning of the year, the junior Eleven (under 165 cms. in height) won the open
competition in Kerma, winning all their matches and not having a single goal
scored against them. The Eleven were presented with silver medals by the
Governor-General. The usual inter-house competitions were held during the
year in all games. At the close of the summer term a camp was again held and
attended by a large number of masters and boys.
In accordance with Government regulations the 5th class was closed, but
two higher classes were opened, viz.,, a 9th and a 10th and numbers increased
from 38 to 65.
It is the aim of the school at present to open a new higher class each year
until the 12th class is reached.
On the whole the year has been a satisfactory one in spite of the loss of the
Primary Department in 1932.
(e) Girls’ School .—The Girls’ School received a set-back during the yearly
the departure of Miss J. F. Woodroffe, the Head Mistress, who left for England
early in September, in order to complete her B.A. course, without which, accord
ing to the new regulations of the Persian Ministry of Education, she could not run
her school. Miss. J. G. Moore, Evangelist, took temporary charge grom M 1SS :
Woodroffe, until the arrival, in October, of Miss. J. M. Darlington, who remained
in charge for the rest of the year.
At present there are 50 girls attending the Girls ’ School. There have been
a few new pupils and several applicants, who wanted to join Form six, have na
to he refused admittance, owing to Government orders.
The staff this year are pupil teachers who hope to take their English tenth
Certificate this spring and will, it is expected, be ready for the Persian Eleven
Certificate in 1935.
The annual examinations were held last June, with very good results. Te
girls took the Persian VI certificates and all passed. Six girls and six teacher
took the Persian IX and all passed. The first and second in each of these exan
nations were from the C. M. S. Girls’ School.